Missouri HB 2675: Modifies provisions relating to grants to expand broadband internet access in unserved and underserved areas

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2675
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE RIGGS.
5403H.02I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 620.2450 and 620.2451, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new
sections relating to grants to expand broadband internet access.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 620.2450 and 620.2451, RSMo, are repealed and two new
2 sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 620.2450 and 620.2451, to read as
3 follows:
620.2450. 1. A grant program is hereby established under sections 620.2450 to
2 620.2458 to award grants to applicants who seek to expand access to broadband internet
3 service in unserved and underserved areas of the state. The department of economic
4 development shall administer and act as the fiscal agent for the grant program and shall be
5 responsibleforreceivingandreviewinggrantapplicationsandawardinggrantsundersections
6 620.2450 to 620.2458. Funding for the grant program established under this section shall be
7 subject to appropriation by the general assembly.
8 2. As used in sections 620.2450 to 620.2458, the following terms shall mean:
9 (1) "Project", the acquisition and installation of retail broadband internet
10 service in unserved and underserved areas of the state;
11 (2) "Underserved area", a project area without access to wireline or fixed wireless
12 broadband internet service of speeds of [at least twenty-five] the higher of:
13 (a) One hundred megabits per-second download and [three] one hundred megabits
14 per-second upload; or
15 (b) The minimum speed established by the Federal Communications
16 Commission as authorized in 7 U.S.C. 950bb(e)(1) to (2).
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

17 [(2)] (3) "Unserved area", a project area without access to wireline or fixed wireless
18 broadband internet service of speeds of at least [ten] twenty-five megabits per-second
19 download and [one megabit] three megabits per-second upload.
620.2451. 1. Grants awarded under sections 620.2450 to 620.2458 shall fund the
2 acquisition and installation of retail broadband internet service [at], prioritizing projects
3 providing speeds of [at least twenty-five] the higher of:
4 (1) One hundred megabits per-second download and [three] one hundred megabits
5 per-second upload[, but] that is scalable to higher speeds; or
6 (2) The minimum acceptable speed established by the Federal Communications
7 Commission as authorized in 7 U.S.C. 950bb(e)(1) to (2).
8 2. The department shall maintain a record of all federal grants awarded to entities for
9 the purposes of providing, maintaining, and expanding rural broadband in the state of
10 Missouri. In cases in which funds have been awarded by a federal agency but later retained,
11 withheld, or otherwise not distributed to the original grant recipient due to failure to meet
12 performance standards or other criteria, the department shall seek to have the funds awarded
13 to another eligible, qualified Missouri broadband provider.
✔
HB 2675 2